Comparing Humanistic-Existential Psychotherapy with Other Approaches

Comparing Humanistic-Existential Psychotherapy with Other Approaches

Humanistic-existential psychotherapy vs cognitive behavioral therapy

Humanistic-existential psychotherapy (H-EP) draws from phenomenology and existential philosophy. It emphasizes authenticity, responsibility, freedom, self-awareness, and personal meaning. Instead of merely reducing symptoms, H-EP helps individuals explore their lived experiences, confront existential issues like meaninglessness, isolation, and mortality, and encourages self-actualization through genuine therapeutic relationships. Its primary approaches include exploring core values, empathetic reflection, and promoting insight, rather than relying on directive techniques (Terao & Satoh, 2022).

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a structured, goal-driven psychotherapy targeting unhealthy behaviors and thought patterns associated with emotional problems. Rooted in cognitive and learning theories, it utilizes techniques like skills training, behavioral activation, and cognitive restructuring. Its primary goal is to enhance functioning and alleviate symptoms through evidence-based, measurable methods (Nakao et al., 2021).

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Differences and impact on PMHNP practice

H-EP and CBT differ greatly. H-EP emphasizes subjective experience, personal growth, and meaning, whereas CBT focuses on changing thoughts and behaviors to reduce symptoms. These differences influence how PMHNPs select treatment approaches. Patients experiencing life transitions, identity issues, or existential worries may find H-EP more helpful. In contrast, those with conditions like OCD and panic disorder generally respond better to CBT (Nakao et al., 2021; Terao & Satoh, 2022).

Second, H-EP is relational and nondirective, serving as a facilitator of insight, while CBT is more structured, collaborative, and directive, often involving session agendas and homework. In practice, PMHNPs must balance the demands of the healthcare system, patient preferences, and available time. H-EP may be better suited for integrated psychotherapy combined with medication management or longer-term outpatient care, whereas CBT might be more appropriate for brief, protocol-driven settings (Nakao et al., 2021; Terao & Satoh, 2022).

Third, H-EP regards distress as a natural reaction to core human concerns such as mortality, responsibility, and freedom. Conversely, CBT sees psychotherapy as arising from maladaptive behaviors and distorted thoughts. This difference affects diagnostic methods: PMHNPs utilizing H-EP aim to understand what matters to the individual, rather than assigning labels, while those employing CBT focus on precise diagnoses and symptom tracking to inform treatment (Nakao et al., 2021; Terao & Satoh, 2022).

Video (Grande, 2019)

Grande (2019) provides a demonstration video on H-EP highlighting the importance of helping clients face authenticity, take personal responsibility, and handle existential anxiety, rather than merely reducing symptoms. The video illustrates H-EP because the patient’s challenges relate to self-direction and existential meaning, not just dysfunctional thoughts or behaviors. The therapist’s role is to help the patient understand their role in shaping their life, acknowledge their freedom to choose, and explore their core values.

H-EP is the preferred treatment here, as shown in the video, because the patient’s distress originates from existential uncertainty rather than just cognitive distortions. The therapeutic relationship acts as the pathway for change, allowing the patient to view anxiety as a meaningful signal instead of a symptom to suppress. H-EP suits patients who might avoid structured techniques or desire deeper self-awareness (Terao & Satoh, 2022).

Potential outcome with CBT

Implementing CBT involves identifying and replacing unhelpful beliefs that cause distress with more rational thoughts. Although this approach can quickly reduce anxiety symptoms, it might not tackle deeper issues related to identity and purpose. Its primary benefit is fast symptom relief, but it offers limited attention to existential concerns. For individuals seeking authenticity or a sense of purpose, CBT may seem too mechanistic or dismissive, possibly leading to lower engagement and fewer long-term gains (Northcut & Kumaria, 2025).

Peer-reviewed, evidence-based sources

Terao and Satoh (2022) demonstrate through their analysis that existential interventions significantly alleviate meaning-related distress, especially in those with chronic illnesses or facing major life changes. The source is scholarly, as it appears in a reputable academic journal, uses rigorous methods, and has been peer-reviewed.

Nakao et al. (2021) offer a comprehensive review of CBT, covering recent developments, theoretical bases, and clinical uses. This source is regarded as scholarly due to its extensive references to empirical studies, theoretical insights, and peer-reviewed quality.

Northcut and Kumaria (2025) explore CBT, emphasizing its commonalities with other therapies and the crucial role of the therapeutic relationship—a fundamental element across all psychotherapy approaches, including CBT and H-EP. Their research, rooted in decades of psychotherapy research, is published by an academic press.

Conclusion

H-EP and CBT have distinct goals, frameworks, and core philosophies. For PMHNPs, understanding these differences is essential for providing patient-centered, personalized care. As shown in Grande (2019), H-EP is particularly useful for patients dealing with issues of responsibility and meaning, while CBT is more effective for addressing specific symptoms. Combining both approaches thoughtfully enables PMHNPs to offer flexible, evidence-based mental health treatments.

References

Nakao, M., Shirotsuki, K., & Sugaya, N. (2021). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for management of mental health and stress-related disorders: Recent advances in techniques and technologies. BioPsychoSocial medicine, 15(1), 16. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13030-021-00219-w

Terao, T., & Satoh, M. (2022). The Present State of Existential Interventions Within Palliative Care. Frontiers in psychiatry, 12, 811612. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.811612

Northcut, T. B., & Kumaria, S. (2025). Psychodynamic and Cognitive Behavioral Theory and Practice: Talking Across the Divide. Oxford University Press.

Grande, T. (2019, January 9). Theories of counseling – Existential therapy [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvAvc2aWup0

Comparing Humanistic-Existential Psychotherapy with Other Approaches

In a 2- to 3-page paper, address the following:

Briefly describe humanistic-existential psychotherapy and the second approach you selected.
Explain at least three differences between these therapies. Include how these differences might impact your practice as a PMHNP.
Focusing on one video you viewed, explain why humanistic-existential psychotherapy was utilized with the patient in the video and why it was the treatment of choice. Describe the expected potential outcome if the second approach had been used with the patient.
Support your response with specific examples from this week’s media and at least three peer-reviewed, evidence-based sources. Explain why each of your supporting sources is considered scholarly. Attach the PDFs of your sources.

Comparing Humanistic-Existential Psychotherapy and Other Approaches

Advanced nurse practitioners must explore clients’ underlying mental and psychological needs and implement evidence-based approaches to attaining the desired outcomes. Psychotherapy approaches manage diverse patient and population needs (Nakao et al., 2021). Understanding these approaches provides a foundational framework for assessing and managing the underlying healthcare needs of the patient and populations. This paper explores the characteristics of humanistic-existential therapy and CBT, analyzing the key features and characteristics associated with this treatment approach.

Existential-humanistic Psychotherapy and CBT

In existential-humanistic psychotherapy, man has worth, and this is due to the inherent purposes that both must be fulfilled. In this way, this model focuses on an individual’s capacity for self-realization, and this kind of treatment should either encourage or indicate a feeling of self-sufficiency, independence, self-management, and responsibility (Heidenreich et al., 2021). In this case, the model offers the prospects for the patients to gain self-esteem and be involved as self-mangers of the conditions and requirements. Consequently, the staff employs this approach to define a patient’s or family member’s concerns worth pursuing and boost their ability to handle the problem. CBT, in contrast, offers a working system between the patient, family, or group and the healthcare team in which everyone participates actively. It is applied to unpleasant thoughts and actions and helps the client comprehend such issues and get involved with the healthcare team to solve such issues and requirements (Wheeler, 2020). Therefore, utilizing the CBT model specialists can enhance the recognition of the necessity of some behaviors and the shortage of control and offer measures and mechanisms to accomplish the lack (Nakao et al., 2021). The treatment can be broadly employed in therapeutic or intervention styles aimed at conditions that modify cognition, anxiety, substance dependence, personality, eating, and mood disorders (Curtiss et al., 2021). Psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioners apply this model to enable the patient to have skills and the ability to deal with the actual reason whenever it hovers around.

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Differences between CBT and Existential-humanistic Psychotherapy

Existential humanistic therapy (EHT) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) are two psychotherapy modalities that are dissimilar in several ways. EHT deals with deeper aspects like, for example, meaning, freedom, and self-identity. The approach fosters the individual’s development and increases existence concerns. Furthermore, CBT works with negative patterns of thinking and behaving and enables the client to apply problem-solving and coping strategies. The second difference pertains to the treatment methods applied to treat potential primary healthcare-related conditions. EHT utilizes a patient-centered approach, where the patient focuses on finding his/her potential and opportunities to be in the best position possible (Nakao et al., 2021). CBT is a formal and organized treatment process with the aim and procedure of changing specific thinking patterns.

Thirdly, time orientation is another aspect of comparison between the two treatments. EHT reduces the focus on current and future events and explores the philosophical concerns about the intended effects. CBT mainly deals with present-day thoughts and matters and offers more opportunities for the client to address the root causes of impaired cognition and work on current cognition (Curtiss et al., 2021). These might influence the select therapy mode for dealing with the underlying mental health conditions and requirements. These differences can help mental health and psychiatric nurse practitioners tailor the treatment and provide the chance to achieve the best results.

The Use of Existential-humanistic Psychotherapy

In the video resource provided, the patient is experiencing significant issues that have impacted his mental health and well-being. However, he has not attended any therapy sessions to manage them despite feeling caged and unfit in the current world. These experiences allow the therapist to explore the meaning and responsibilities, taking responsibility for his actions and consequences. The therapist, in this case, has a goal of assisting the client develop a strong feeling of safety, security, and the ability to manage the underlying issues and needs (Heidenreich et al., 2021).  Applying EHT, the nurse practitioner will enhance the client’s understanding of the existing needs, determine available resources and opportunities, and manage issues by exploring mechanisms that attain the best outcomes. These approaches will enable the client to understand the purpose of their existence, identify personal values and strengths, and mobilize the needed resources to manage the underlying needs. In this approach, nurse practitioners may use techniques such as motivational interviewing to enhance cooperation and active participation and mobilize efforts to attain the targeted goals (Wheeler, 2020). However, as the therapist, I would incorporate appropriate measures and mechanisms for achieving safe and efficient care and ensuring that the underlying needs are adequately and effectively managed.

Conclusion

Managing the underlying mental health and psychiatric illnesses provides opportunities and strategies for addressing the underlying issues and needs and enhancing the attainment of the targeted outcomes. EHT and CBT are common psychotherapy approaches and techniques in which healthcare professionals and stakeholders work to attain the desired healthcare goals.  As a nurse practitioner, examining the elements and characteristics of the different treatment approaches provides optimal opportunities for enhancing healthcare service delivery and managing the underlying needs.

References

Curtiss, J. E., Levine, D. S., Ander, I., & Baker, A. W. (2021). Cognitive-behavioral treatments for anxiety and stress-related disorders. Focus, 19(2), 184–189. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.focus.20200045

Heidenreich, T., Noyon, A., Worrell, M., & Menzies, R. (2021). Existential approaches and cognitive behavior therapy: Challenges and potential. International Journal of Cognitive Therapy, 14(1), 209–234. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41811-020-00096-1

Nakao, M., Shirotsuki, K., & Sugaya, N. (2021). Cognitive behavioral therapy for management of mental health and stress-related disorders: Recent advances in techniques and technologies. BioPsychoSocial Medicine, 15(1), 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13030-021-00219-w

Wheeler, K. (2020). Psychotherapy for the advanced practice psychiatric nurse: A how-to guide for evidence-based practice (3rd ed.). Springer Publishing Company Comparing Humanistic-Existential Psychotherapy with Other Approaches.